[meteorite-list] Re: THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHING Pictures 101

[Dave Freeman mjwy]

Thank you very much, I will save this one for future reference..come 
this fall.
Best,
Dave F.

thornysahuaro wrote:

>--- Dave Freeman mjwy <dfreeman at fascination.com> wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Dear Tom, List;
>>Here we go.    Get a dark (black felt) non reflective cloth square
>>maybe 
>>    
>>
>
>Tom, Dave, and List;
>Over the last several years I have been taking lots of photos of
>various mineral specimens and a few meteorites I would like to pass
>along some of what I have learned.
>*Background color makes a difference in attracting buyers on Ebay.
>*A poor photo is worse than no photo.
>*Unless you have perfect supermodel's hands keep your thumbs out of
>the picture.
>My photo studio is a heavy cardboard box about 2 foot square with the
>top and front cut out. My background is a swath of fabric draped
>inside the box and held in place with cloths pins. I went to several
>fabric stores and bought one yard each of fabric in various shades of
>the primary colors plus black and Gray. My lighting is two 150W
>halogen work lights clamped to the top sides of the box. I don't
>remember the wavelength but somewhere I read that halogen light is
>good for color photography. It works for me and I can't imagine
>waiting for  outside light conditions to be just right. I bought my
>lights from The Home Depot for about $10.00 each and they come with a
>sturdy clamp and pivoting head for adjusting the angle. Two lights
>eliminate the shadow but still allow for depth.  The concave
>shapeless area with drapes and folds from the cloth in the box draws
>the eye of the viewer to stone in the center. By putting a small
>stand under the stone you can make it appear to float on air against
>the background. Experimenting with this set up, I have found that
>different color backgrounds will bring out patterns and details in
>the subject stone. The background cloth reflects it's color onto the
>subject just enough to enhance the contrast and bring out the detail.
> This is the most dramatic in material with highly reflective areas
>adjoining duller areas, like metal flakes in meteorites. 
>By experimenting with a variety of different color cloths and moving
>the lighting around you can take a lot of pictures and get that one
>that really sets off your subject.
>Ebay buyers are drawn in by the gallery picture.  If that half inch
>square picture in the left hand column doesn't grab their attention
>they may go right past your auction.  Make that picture stand out. 
>My limited experience is that bright red or bright blue backgrounds
>work.
>When you are done just fold up your fabric, unplug your lights and
>store everything in the box.
>Art Brasher  
>
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